diff --git a/services/search/pkg/bleve/index.go b/services/search/pkg/bleve/index.go
index 4d229bf98f..d4f7787ba9 100644
--- a/services/search/pkg/bleve/index.go
+++ b/services/search/pkg/bleve/index.go
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ func NewIndex(root string, logger log.Logger) (bleve.Index, searchmapping.Classi
 			return nil, searchmapping.Classification{}, err
 		}
 
-		logger.Info().Str("index", destination).Msg("created a new empty search index; if this OpenCloud instance already held files, they are not in it yet, index them by running: opencloud search index --all-spaces --force-rescan")
+		searchmapping.LogNewIndexCreated(logger, destination)
 		return index, searchmapping.Classification{Verdict: searchmapping.VerdictEqual}, nil
 	}
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/services/search/pkg/mapping/reconcile.go b/services/search/pkg/mapping/reconcile.go
index a812128c2b..460218f8f0 100644
--- a/services/search/pkg/mapping/reconcile.go
+++ b/services/search/pkg/mapping/reconcile.go
@@ -43,3 +43,10 @@ func Reconcile(index string, r SchemaReconciler, logger log.Logger) (Classificat
 
 	return classification, nil
 }
+
+// LogNewIndexCreated logs that a fresh, empty index was created and how to
+// backfill it. Both backends call it after creating their index (that path does
+// not run through Reconcile); an existing, up-to-date index stays silent.
+func LogNewIndexCreated(logger log.Logger, index string) {
+	logger.Info().Str("index", index).Msg("created a new empty search index; if this OpenCloud instance already held files, they are not in it yet, index them by running: opencloud search index --all-spaces --force-rescan")
+}
diff --git a/services/search/pkg/opensearch/index.go b/services/search/pkg/opensearch/index.go
index db0125da42..f2e42286ef 100644
--- a/services/search/pkg/opensearch/index.go
+++ b/services/search/pkg/opensearch/index.go
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ func (m IndexManager) Apply(ctx context.Context, name string, client *opensearch
 		var structErr *opensearchgo.StructError
 		switch {
 		case createErr == nil && createResp.Acknowledged:
-			logger.Info().Str("index", name).Msg("created a new empty search index; if this OpenCloud instance already held files, they are not in it yet, index them by running: opencloud search index --all-spaces --force-rescan")
+			searchmapping.LogNewIndexCreated(logger, name)
 			return nil
 		case createErr == nil:
 			return fmt.Errorf("failed to create index %s: not acknowledged", name)